Special Resources for Reporters
DEC, Attorney General Sue Junkyard Cited for Dozens of Long-running Environmental Violations
The state has sued the owners of a Washington County junkyard for years of environmental damage caused by allowing toxic chemicals to contaminate the air and nearby groundwater. The full text of the news release can be found at the Attorney General's website
DEC and Department of Justice Announce Guilty Pleas In Lawrence Aviation Case
Lawrence Aviation Industries, Inc. and its owner/operator plead guilty to illegally storing hazardous waste on Long Island. From the US Deptartment of Justice website.
$1.2 Million Settlement for Orleans County Landfill Cleanup
Eight companies will pay a total of $1.2 million to reimburse DEC and the state for the cleanup of what's known as the Yager Road landfill in Albion, Orleans County. The full text of the news release can be found at the Attorney General's website.
DEC Asks Media Not to Call Dispatch Center
Calls to DEC 24-hour Dispatch Center
This is a reminder to media that reporters, producers and other representatives should NOT call the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) 24-hour Dispatch Center for information on ongoing emergencies and investigations.
Similar to the 911 system, the dispatch center is not intended to respond to public or media inquiries. In fact, such calls could delay or prevent DEC dispatchers from receiving and handling emergency calls.
This reminder is necessary because of recent instances of reporters and other media representatives calling the dispatch center for information on incidents such as wildland fires, search-and-rescue missions or other investigations.
The DEC Dispatch Center serves as a police dispatch for DEC's Environmental Conservation Officers and Forest Rangers, serving to coordinate safety of the officers and rangers in the field. During non-business hours, dispatchers also assist in coordinating responses for police authorities throughout the state. We continue to encourage the public to call this toll-free number and, if necessary, other appropriate law enforcement authorities immediately if someone witnesses an environmental violation or has an emergency.
In order to ensure their work to protect public safety is not compromised or interrupted, dispatchers will not provide information about any incident or investigation and will direct all reporters to the press office at 518-402-8000.
The DEC press office is always available to assist with media inquiries during non-business hours. On weekends, holidays, and after 5 p.m., media can call 518-402-8000 and either leave a message to be heard the next business day, or receive the contact information for the press officer on duty.
Date Set for Nation's 1st Auction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Allowances
Setting the stage for a new approach to combating climate change, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) announced that the first auction in the nation for carbon dioxide pollution allowances will take place Sept. 10, 2008.
Auctions will be quarterly, with the second auction set for Dec. 17, 2008. In all likelihood, New York will participate in the second auction rather than the first.
The RGGI participants are Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. The full release and supplemental materials about the design of the auction are available at the RGGI Inc. website.
2007 Deer Harvest and 2007 Black Bear Hunting Results
Hunters harvested approximately 220,000 deer in the 2007 season, a 16 percent increase over the previous season.
Bear harvest numbers increased in 2007 in all three of New York State's bear hunting ranges.
Indian Point Relicensing Petition- December 3, 2007
Governor Eliot Spitzer and Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo have announced the submission of papers to deny the relicensing of the Indian Point nuclear power plant. The papers filed with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) identify dangerous deficiencies - including those related to terrorism, earthquakes, evacuation plans, and the surrounding population density - in Entergy's relicensing application for Indian Point.
The state's petition and position are available. The full text of the press release is available on the Governor's Press Release website.
FAQs About Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative- October 24, 2007
The state has advanced regulations to implement a new "cap-and-trade" system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by power plants. The system will require power companies to buy one pollution "credit'' for every ton of pollution. There is a question-and-answer primer available. The full text of the press release is available on the state Governor's Press Release website.
Penalty Seals Settlement with Owner of Illegal Broome County Mine- October 18, 2007
The state has announced a settlement with the owner of an illegal Broome County bluestone mine, requiring the owner to fully comply with state environmental protection laws and pay a penalty of up to $40,000. This press release was issued jointly by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Office of the New York State Attorney General. The full text of the release is available on the Attorney General's website.
More about Special Resources for Reporters:
- 2008 Hudson Fulton Champlain Quadricentennial Mini-Grant Recipients - Names and organizations of Mini-Grant Recipients.
- Bear Harvest Comparison - 2007 - A table showing how bear harvest numbers increased in 2007 in all three of New York State's bear hunting ranges.
- 2007 Deer Harvest - Hunters harvested approximately 220,000 deer in the 2007 season, a 16 percent increase over the previous season.
